Nurse charged with 3 murders

A nurse was charged yesterday with murdering three women patients and the attempted murder of a man at the hospital where she worked.

Ann Grigg-Booth, 51, is further accused of 13 counts of administering noxious substances to other patients at Airedale General Hospital, in Keighley, West Yorkshire.

She was arrested as part of an inquiry into the deaths of the three women, aged 96, 75 and 67.

Detectives were called in after a "routine audit" by hospital officials.

Two other women and a man were arrested during the investigation. They have been released on bail and a file sent to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Grigg-Booth, who is believed to have left the Keighley area, has been suspended on full pay since February last year.

She has been charged and bailed to appear before Bingley magistrates on Oct 12, West Yorkshire police said yesterday.

The force said in a statement: "In relation to this investigation three other people were arrested earlier this year, two women both aged 52 and one man aged 56.

"Files are been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service for consideration. These three people are on police bail."

Airedale Hospital, which has 600 beds, opened in 1970 and serves an area north of Bradford.

Robert Allen, the chief executive of Airedale NHS Trust, said: "We are unable to say anything further about the latest details of the police inquiry, however, we have been working closely with the police throughout their investigation and will continue to do so."